Knockdown folding fruit-crate and packing-box



(NoModeL) O.E.BARTRAM. KNOGKDOWN FOLDING FRUIT CRATE AND PACKING BOX.

No. Z60,357.- Patented July 4, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI E.

CHARLES E. BARTRAM, OF FREDONIA, NEW- YORK.

KNOCKDOWN FOLDING FRUIT-CRATE AND PACKING-BOX.

, SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 260,357, dated July4, 1882.

Application filed May 20, 1882. (No model.)

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. BARTRAM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fredonia, in the county of Chautauqua and State ofNewYork,have made certain Improvements in Fruit-Crates, of which the followingisa specification.

This invention relates to a knockdown crate or box, of rectangular formwhen set up, for transporting fruits, 850.; and the invention consistsin its construction, as fully hereinafter explained.

In the drawings,Figure 1 is an inside plan f the box opened out flat;Fig. 2, perspective of box set up; Fig. 3, detail of one end, being atop plan view, showing grooves; Fig. 4, edge View of one end pieceseparate; Fig. 5, an enlarged detail of grooved end of side pieces.

A A represent the two sides of the crate, A the bottom, and A the top orcover. These are all held together by hinges a a a, (see Figs. 1 and 2,)which are either on the inside or outside of the pieces forming thecrate or box.

B B are the two ends. These are usually constructed of a single piece ofwood, and have a groove or half-dovetail cut in each, near the ends,(see Figs. 3 and 4,) and with strengthening-pieces b b on the back (seeFigs. 2 and 3) to prevent warping.

iing down the outer end to the level of the depth required, and thennailing straightrectangular pieces or strips of wood 6 0 onto theextreme edge of the pieces A A A A, as in Figs. 1 and 5, leaving thegroove-spaces'c c d d, as shown. The object of this is to give greaterstrength to the grooves, as, if they were out in the wood and so left,the outer edges would break away. Therefore I use these strips of woode,'1nade with the grain, and nail them on across the grain of the piecesA A A A, which not only strengthens the whole construction, but preventschecking or warping of the four pieces.

When the top A is shut its straight grooves d d therein fit on the endpieces, making a tight connection. Haspsffengage with pivoted hooks g gand fasten the cover down.

This box or crate is made with open spaces h between the slats, or maybe tight. It is intended to carry more especially valuable fruits to adistance, and for this reason will be usually ventilated by theseopenings h, or otherwise.

When the crate is to be returned the side pieces, 13 B, are drawn outand the sides, bottom, and top opened out flat, as in Fig. 1, or doubledover on each other, so as to take up but little room for freighting backto shipper or owner.

I claim A knockdown box or crate constructed with the side pieces, A A,top A, and bottom A, all hinged together, and having the dovetails andgrooves c d on the inside of said pieces, with grooved or dovetailed endpieces, 13 B, fitting in the corresponding grooves, c d, and with thegroove-pieces e 6, attached to pieces AAA A, and forming part of saidgrooves, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In witness whereofI have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

CHARLES E. BARTRAM.

Witnesses:

J. It. DRAKE, (J. H. KELLOGG.

